François Paul Journe, Patek Philippe and Rolex @ Christie's November 27

Here are my picks for the upcoming auction at Christie's on November 27:

I will start with the François Paul Journe - tourbillon anniversaire. A re-interpretation of his first pocket watch which he made in 1983. This timepiece was a limit series of only 99 pieces and is for me personally my favorite watch by François Paul Journe. Lot N°2703, Estimated 50 000 $ - 62 000 $.

Rolex military Submariner in perfect condition accompanied by a letter from Rolex confirming that this timepiece was sold to the British Royal Navy. Lot N°2543, Estimated 120 000 $ - 180 000 $.

This Patek Philippe 565 is the only one known combining a stainless steel case with black dial and steel Breguet numerals. Lot N°2513, Estimated 13 000 $ - 19 000 $.

Until today there are only 8 examples of the Patek Philippe 1579 in stainless steel known! Most of them were recased later then the 1940's during servicing. The present watch is an example of these recased timepieces and this one was done in 1967. Lot N°2522, Estimated 200 000 $ - 300 000 $.

I invite you as well to have a look at my vintage corner on my website of my boutique, some rare and beautiful timepieces are waiting there!

All the best.

Christian

www.watchcollector.lu

Vintage corner: http://www.watchcollector.lu/#!vintage/cj08

(photos by Christie's)

Benzinger ONE - Patek Philippe 1917, unique timepiece

For the Benzinger ONE collection, Jochen Benzinger does use always rare vintage movements such as from Vacheron & Constantin, Patek Philippe, Rolex, ... and makes the finissage of the movement in the legendary Benzinger style (hand-guilloché, hand-engraving and hand-skeletonization).  For this unique and outstanding beautiful timepiece Jochen Benzinger does use a rare movement made by Patek Philippe in ca. 1917 and was sold to Henry J. Howe in New York at that time.

By looking closer to the details of this unique timepiece, you will discover the Patek Philippe cross at 6 o'clock and at 9 o'clock in the small seconds which is an hommage to this great manufactory.

The details of the movement are extraordinary. Jochen Benzinger did leave the beautifully shapped bridges in its original form and made the finissage in a beautiful sun-guilloché by hand. The balance cock is hand-engraved and all screws are flame blued. The original engravings by Patek Philippe are rose gold plated with black font to highlight it from the bridges.

The watch perfectly fits on the wrist with its 42mm in diameter and looks really breathtaking when wearing it!

For requests and orders, I warmly invite you to send me an e-mail on the following address: info@watchcollector.lu

You can subscribe as well on my homepage, to receive for the next Benzinger ONE timepiece exclusively the photos and details before the watch will be published officially! http://www.watchcollector.lu/#!benzinger-one/c1wfr

This is a unique timepiece, the first is first!

All the best.

Christian
www.watchcollector.lu

(photos: Watch Collector by Christian Bissener)

A. Lange & Söhne Tourbillon pour le Mérite @ Dr.Crott November 15

This one is an other rare opportunity at the upcoming auction by Dr. Crott to buy a super rare timepiece made by A. Lange & Söhne, the legendary Tourbillon pour le Mérite! This one is number 21/50. So, beside the stainless steel Lange 1 this one is a great chance for collectors to get 2 beautiful and legendary timepieces added to their collection! Lot N°76, Estimated 250 000 € - 320 000 €.

All the best.
Christian
www.watchcollector.lu
(photos: Dr. Crott)

Super rare and beautiful pocket watches @ Sotheby's November 11

I do really like pocket watches, their class, their style, even that they are not fashionable nowadays but I don't care so much about that word. These timepieces were made, when there was no computer, cnc or what ever high-tech machine. These watches were build by hand and that makes it so fascinating to me.

I start with this Audemars Frères pocket watch made in circa 1890. It features a répétition minutes, grande et petite sonnerie plus calendar with day and date. I like the design of the dial very much with the day at 10 o'clock, date at 2 o'clock and small seconds at 6 o'clock. Lot N°92, Estimated 45 000 CHF - 95 000 CHF.

                                             

Victorin Piguet was specialized in the production of high quality repeaters and chronographes and was involved in the construction of the Henri Graves Supercomplication and the Packard Grande Complication. As well Victorin Piguet was involved in the development of Pateks first split second chronographe. This beauty which is up for sale is a répétition minutes with chronographe, 30 minutes register made in circa 1905. Look at the finissage of the movement! Lot N°368, Estimated 40 000 CHF - 80 000 CHF.

Audemars Piguet split second chronographe with 30 minutes register and répétition minutes made in 1910. I like the combination of the champagne dial and yellow gold case and the movement is really a beauty. Lot N°346, Estimated 25 000 CHF - 45 000 CHF.

This Patek Philippe with the complications of calendar with moon phase, split second chronographe and répétition minutes is a beautiful and super rare pocket watch. It is believed, that only 2 of these timepieces were made per year since it was introduced 1887. Because of the influence of the buyer, Horace Scudder Sears, Patek Philippe received in the following years commissions from well known collectors such as James Ward Packard and Henry Grave Jr. Lot N°349, Estimated 175 000 CHF - 250 000 CHF.

All the best.
Christian
www.watchcollector.lu
(photos by Sotheby's)

George Daniels anniversary watch 4/35 @ Sotheby's November 11

This is a super rare opportunity to acquire one of the anniversary watches by George Daniels made in collaboration with Roger Smith, his only protégé and who is continuing the legacy of George Daniels in his own workshop by finishing his super rare and impressive timepieces by hand. 

There were only 35 pieces made (this is number 4) to celebrate the anniversary of the co-axial escapement invented by George Daniels. Lot N°290, Estimated 120 000 CHF - 180 000 CHF.

In 2009 George Daniels approached Roger Smith with the idea and both sat long time together to discuss the design and technical aspects of the watch. Roger Smith did ask George Daniels if he could fit his single wheel version of the co-axial escapement into the series and the master agreed. A "dummy" watch was presented first at the SalonQP in London, November 2010 and the success was immense. For the upcoming SalonQP in November 2011 George Daniels asked Roger Smith to make a watch and two movements for the presentation. Sadly George Daniels passed away on 21 October 2011 and could never see the success of his 35th anniversary watch.

On the photos below I include the statement of Roger Smith on working with George Daniels for the anniversary watch (book: "All in good time, reflections of a watchmaker" and "A master watchmaker and his art"):

All the best.

Christian

Auction @Christie's November 10 ¦ Abraham Louis Breguet sale

At this upcoming auction, Christie's November 10, there are 3 magnificent Abraham Louis Breguet pocket watches for sale. I, personnally, do really like pocket watches escpecially those from Abraham Louis Breguet, the so called greatest watchmaker ever (But there are some others, which I see as really great watchmaker; Thomas Mudge, John Arnold, Thomas Earnshaw, John Harrison, Antide Janvier and the "new" names, Dr. George Daniels, Philippe Dufour, Beat Haldimann, François Paul Journe, Kari Voutilainen, ...).

My passion for watches started with a pocket watch of my great-grandfather at a very young age and so there is still that special feeling to me, when holding a beautiful crafted pocket watch in my hands or looking at photos of such special timepieces.

I will start with this super rare and beautiful "Montre souscription à taille moyenne" N°1576 which features a gold cuvette and the rarer mid-size of 54mm. Lot N° 391, Estimated 10 000 € - 15 000 €.

The "montre à tact" invented by Abraham Louis Breguet in the late 1790's during an epoch when it was unseemly to read the time in public. This very beautiful example, N°608, comes with an engine turned case with blue enamal and set with diamonds. It is a small montre à tact with a diameter of 42mm and was sold to Monsieur Bastrecher for 3000 francs in March-April 1800. Lot N°392, Estimated 34 000€ - 50 000€.

This very special and super rare Abraham Louis Breguet N°1135, comes with a great provenance of history and the technical side of this impressive timepieces is excellent. It was sold on January 18 1806 to Mr. le duc de l'Infantado for the amount of 4200 francs which was a huge amount for a non jewelled watch or a watch without complications at that time. This timepiece features a quarter repeater and the legendary "échappement libre à levées naturelles" of which are less than 30 known, plus gold dial. Lot N°393, Estimated 150 000€ - 230 000€.

All the best.
Christian
(pictures by Christie's)

Auction @Christie's November 10

At the upcoming auction Christie's November 10 there are a lot of really beautiful watches coming up for sale. It is really worth to have a look at their catalogue. 

For my picks, I won't stay with the "oh so well known Patek, Rolex and so on big names" ;) I choose some really beautiful chronograph watches such as the following:

Universal Genève split second chronograph with 24h dial. This one, I'd say is my favorite watch of my picks. Not so often seen and with this complications it does look really amazing and is super rare. Signature on the dial "A. Cairelli" made in 1945. Lot N° 112, Estimated 34.000 € - 50.000 €.

This beauty, an Eberhard split second chronograph from 1940 comes in with a combination I do absolutely like, stainless steel case and pink  dial. Lot N° 110, Estimated 25.000 € - 42.000€.

This Eberhard split second chronograph from 1940 comes in with a different combo as the one above. It does have a gold case in combination with a black dial. Different stepped bezel and baton numerals. Lot N° 333, Estimated 25.000 € - 42.000 €.

This one is a more simple but really beautiful Eberhard chronograph from 1945. It comes in a beautiful combination of gold case and silvered dial. Lot N° 331, Estimated 4.200 € - 6.700 €.

Longines monopusher chronograph with the legendary 13ZN movement in it ordered by the Romanian Air Force and had the revolving bezel to which a dagger indicator was linked. Includes as well a copy of the distribution list over 215 Longines aviator's chronographs. Lot N° 257, Estimated 13.000 € - 17.000 €.

All the best.
Christian
(Photos by Christie's)

NEW: Vintage watches at my boutique

Dear watch aficionado.

From now on, you can find some of the most exclusive and rare vintage timepieces such as from Patek Philippe, Rolex, Vacheron & Constantin, Jaeger le Coultre, Omega, ... at my boutique.

Have a look at my site of my boutique "WatchCollector". I will update the vintage timepieces from time to time, so I warmly invite you to check back betweenwhiles.

http://www.watchcollector.lu/#!vintage/cj08

All the best.
Christian

Lange 1 stainless steel!!! @ Dr.Crott auction November 15

Damned, when a watch like this one is coming up for sale at an auction, I am always getting so excited. This very special, a super rare A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 made in 1998 is made of stainless steel!! This is very unusual for A. Lange & Söhne, because they normally case in their watches in precious metals. As a result of Dr. Crott researches, it is known that this one is only the 4th example know that ever appeared at an auction!

Lot 39280, Estimated 100 000€ - 120 000€

All the best.
Christian
(photos: Dr. Crott)

NEW: Benzinger - 3/4 Skelett rose engine black edition

The 3/4 Skelett rose engine black edition is a really cool looking timepiece. Because of its completely black pvd coated movement and on top the original Breguet frosted dial it gets a really noble appearance.

The movement and dial are all hand guilloché, hand engraved and hand skeletonized. The case comes in stainless steel (can be changed to a gold case as well) with a diameter of 42mm.

To give you an idea what it takes to craft a Benzinger timepiece, I invite you to have a look at the following video:

For requests and orders I warmly invite you to send me an e-mail on the following address: info@watchcollector.lu

More details about my boutique and my brands you can find on my website: www.watchcollector.lu

All the best.

Christian

(photos: Watch Collector by Christian Bissener)

NEW: Benzinger - Black T 24h

The Black T-24h made by Jochen Benzinger is a really special timepiece. The 24h display gets symbolized by the sun and moon. 

The dial is seperated in two parts: the ground dial with the roman numerals for the hours, black pvd plated and the upper dial with the "pointure" for the minutes and the small seconds at 6 o'clock.

All the guilloché work is done by hand and the upper dial is original breguet frosted!

The movement is based on an eta6498 but heavily modified in-house for the 24h display. It is beautifully finished with a black pvd coat and rhodié. The squelette, the engravings and the guilloché is done by hand!

To give you an idea what it takes to make a Benzinger timepiece, you can have a look at this video:

For requests and orders I warmly invite you to send me an e-mail on the following address: info@watchcollector.lu

More details about my boutique and my brands you can find on my website: www.watchcollector.lu

All the best.
Christian
(photos: WatchCollector by Christian Bissener)